Overswimming

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Crossing a body of water by swimming, or swimming past a set limit or point
2. Moving through water over or across a stretch, or going beyond a boundary by swimming
3. Traveling across a stretch of water by swimming, or extending past a mark reached in the water

Etymology: "Overswimming" is the present participle and gerund of "overswim," a verb formed from "over-" and "swim." The prefix "over-" is an old English element meaning across, beyond, or above, so the verb simply means to swim across or beyond something. Its meaning follows the literal sense of "over" closely: crossing a stretch of water, or going past a marker that has been reached in the water. Because "swim" is an ancient, native English verb, and "over-" is a productive prefix that has been used to form countless compounds like "overrun," "overcome," and "overtake," the word needs no special coinage story. It is a transparent formation, and its parts carry most of its meaning on their own.